EDUCATION
Master and Bachelor of Arts in Research Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. 

TEACHING INTERESTS
General Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Perceptual Development, Health Psychology, Psychology of Learning, Motivation, Biological Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Social Psychology, Human Growth & Development, Experimental Psychology, Cognition

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
A teaching philosophy is progressive and ever changing. As a professor, one learns and adapts to the environment that is presented. Every class has their own traits and special ways of preferred learning, conversing, and interacting. A successful facilitator will adapt to these characteristics to provide the class with the most ideal learning environment while maintaining interest, effective classroom management techniques, and collaboration with administration to achieve a better overall institution.
I am confident in my abilities to adapt to any classroom energy. I believe in frequently monitoring the class for verbal and nonverbal feedback in order to adjust interest and motivation to learn. I frequently call on my students by name, praising them for their insight or asking challenging questions. My students know where they stand because I provide frequent feedback on their progress and areas in which they can improve. My coursework is also managed accordingly. For example, if a particular class seems to enjoy class discussion and is very interactive, I may hold a debate in class on a controversial topic to encourage critical thinking and empathy in alternative views. Or, if a class is quiet, I may encourage small group work and slowly introduce more teamwork activities in order to “break the ice” so students feel more comfortable sharing questions and opinions. I also adjust my material to the types of careers my students are targeting. For example, on the first day of a psychology class, I take an inventory of students’ career fields and if I have a majority of nursing students, I will spend extra time on the anatomy and physiology of the brain, show a video on the perception of pain, as well as do a sensitivity training that students actively participate in class. These experiences are relevant, distinctive, and therefore retained better than just a traditional lecture classroom alone.
In addition to these classic techniques, I incorporate the newest breakthroughs in education technology. Today’s students demand new and modern teaching techniques that enhance learning. Many of the tools I use vary from semester to semester and from class to class. They include (but not limited to) book publisher online tools such as SmartBook and Connect from McGraw Hill or Pearson’s MyLab; MOOCs; LMSs; and Apps.
My classroom management techniques are hardly ever needed due to my ability to connect with my students. Students feel that I have opened their minds into new ways of thinking about their lives, their careers, and their relationships while also learning all coursework required. I am always willing to help dedicated students that are in need of extra instruction and find that one on one feedback on performance is the best classroom management technique available. My genuine interest in a student’s individual success leads to a synergistically better classroom experience.
Finally, in order to be an excellent professor, I believe the rest of your institution must also reflect that excellence. I work with administration in order to improve the institution to provide students with the best quality education possible. I empathize with the challenges of administrators because I was an administrator myself. I was asked to fill in as the General Education Director at Salter College for 3 years, supervising over 40 full-time and adjunct faculty members. Along with the other 5 directors and the Dean of Academics, we worked to improve the institution and also worked towards NEASC and ACICS accreditation. The challenges and successes came with hard work, compromise, and sacrifice. I understand the struggles that administration and faculty have and feel that I can provide a buffer to each side, providing a more successful team that can accomplish exceedingly higher goals.
In closing, my dedication, energy, and passion is in teaching and that is what I believe makes me an excellent faculty member. Providing students with the highest quality education through innovative learning, excellent rapport with students, and effective administrative - faculty teamwork that grows an institution as a whole is the most basic summary of my philosophy. Given the opportunity, my positive outlook and creativity will blossom to be progressive and adapting to the needs of students and institutions alike.